tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61647167515183154292024-03-06T01:02:02.562+05:30Spirit of ExplorationThere are no limits to exploration...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-79714267323518418702015-03-28T00:22:00.001+05:302015-03-28T09:44:28.304+05:30Geet Ramayan - A "happening"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That a radio program spanning 56 weekends should
evolve into a full-length music concert and then capture the imagination of
millions for six decades, seems like an impossible fairytale. But the story of Geet Ramayan is no
less than such a tale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sixty years ago on Ramnavami, the voice of ‘Babuji’ Sudhir Phadke
rang out in the morning on Aakshvaani Pune, carrying the words of Ga Di
Madgulkar</span> –<span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: MR; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> स्वये श्रीरामप्रभू ऐकती, कुशलव रामायण गाती</span>.
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fifty-five songs followed over the
next one year, and the
rest is history. Much has been written and spoken about it in these last 60 years. It has also been translated into several other languages. People celebrated its silver jubilee, then its golden jubilee, and the celebrations are still continuing. What is the secret of its
astounding success? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is it just a combination of classic lyrics and melody? Or is there more
to it than meets the eye? Before we delve into this enquiry, a tribute to its
creators is a must. I cannot find any better way than to just quote the co-creators here – </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Ga Di Ma said about his creation – </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: MR; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">अजाणतेपणी केव्हा माता घाली बाळगुटी </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: MR; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">बीज धर्माच्या द्रुमाचे कणकण गेले पोटी </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: MR; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">छंद जाणतेपणीचा तीर्थे काव्याची धुंडिली </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: MR; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">कोण्या एका भाग्यवेळी पूजा रामाची मांडिली </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: MR; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">देववाणीतले ओज शीतळले माझ्या ओठी</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: MR; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">वाल्मिकीच्या भास्कराचे झाले चांदणे मराठी</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: MR; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">झंकारल्या कंठवीणा आले चांदण्याला सूर </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: MR; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">भावमाधुर्याला आला महाराष्ट्री महापूर </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: MR; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">चंद्रभारल्या जिवाला नाही कशाचीच चाड </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; line-height: 115%;">मला कशाला मोजता? मी तो
भारलेले झाड</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="MR" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And this is what Babuji said – <span lang="MR">गीतरामायणाचं महत्व शब्दामध्ये व्यक्त करावं ही शक्ती
माझ्यात नाही. एकच सांगतो की गीतरामायण कोणी केलेलं नाही. मी केलेलं नाही,
माडगूळकरांनी केलेलं नाही, ते “झालेलं” आहे. काही गोष्टी अशा असतात, त्या कोण करतं
माहीत नाही.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="MR"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="MR" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Geet Ramayan
has been described in many ways - it has been called a miracle, a milestone in Maharashtra’s culture and so on. The
fact is that it has existed for longer than the ‘Maharashtra State’ as we know
it today! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any art has to be seen in light of the environment at that time. So r</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ewind to 1955, and consider this –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eight years had passed since independence, and we Indians were
coming to terms with some uncomfortable truths. The horrors of WW-II were still being felt by the struggling economy. Prices were rising, foodgrains were scarce (long
queues outside ration shops) and the country faced a severe trade deficit. Look
at some of the movies of 50s. Raj Kapoor in Shree 420, Aawara, Jaagte
Raho and Phir Subah Hogi - underlining the plight of a common man (aam
aadmi as a phrase was yet to be coined then!) battling the cruel system. Raja
Paranjape’s Pedgaoche Shahane and Lakhachi Gosht, commonly labelled as
comedy movies, are actually a scathing commentary on the degenerate system. And
then, who can forget Guru Dutt asking everyone – Jinhe naaz hai Hind par wo
kahaan hain?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pu La Deshpande wrote this in 1972, and it accurately captures
the disillusionment that Indians faced in the 50s. An excerpt - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">स्वातंत्र्य मिळण्यापूर्वीचा आयुष्यातला सारा
काळ हा जणू काय स्वप्नाचा काळ होता आणि इथून पुढे या स्वप्नाशी मेळ न जमवणारा
विद्रूप सत्याशी सामना देणारा काळ सुरु झाला होता. स्वातंत्र्याची पहाट
फुटल्याच्या घोषणा कानावर पडत होत्या पण डोळ्यांपुढे मात्र अंधारल्यासारखे झाले
होते.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="MR">भोवताली हा असा अंधार दाटल्यासारखा वाटत असूनही
आपण यापुढे परक्याचे गुलाम नाही या कल्पनेचा आनंद होताच.....पण हळूहळू प्रत्यक्षात
निराळेच चित्र दिसायला लागले. स्वातंत्र्यलढ्यातल्या नेत्यांचे राज्यकर्ते
झाल्याबरोबर त्यांच्या वागणुकीत, राहण्याच्या पद्धतीत, विचारसरणीत भलताच फरक पडू
लागला.....चार आणेवाल्या या दरिद्री नारायणाच्या टोपीचा आता राजमुकुट झाला होता.
जी टोपी डोक्यावर असताना साधी विडी ओढण्याचे धैर्य होत नसे त्या टोपीखालचे डोके
आता सत्तामदाने झिंगू लागले होते....</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 20.25pt; text-align: right; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="MR">“एका गांधी टोपीचा प्रवास” (१९७२)
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Such
were the times when Geet Ramayan “happened”. Which brings us back to the
question – what made it so successful? I have no intention of getting
into the debate whether Ramayan actually happened for real or not. Whether it
did or didn't, I like to believe that Valmiki surely documented it<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>for a purpose</i>. To
remind all rulers (or anyone, for that matter) about a “code of conduct”;
about the ideal behavior expected. Little surprise then that the characters in
Mahabharat appear to be more human, more vulnerable to the trials and
tribulations of life than those in Ramayan. (Read ‘Sanskruti’ by Iravati
Karve.) But that doesn't mean that Ramayan is all utopia. It is what
one turns to when faced with the dilemma between ‘want to do’ and ‘ought to
do’.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In that sense the title bestowed upon Ga Di Ma of a “modern Valmiki”
couldn’t be more apt. No, I am not suggesting that he wrote it as a sermon. Nor
am I saying that he wrote to to cheer up the dejected common man as his version
of ‘Acchhe din’! The socio-economic environment of 1950s did contribute to Geet
Ramayan “happening”. It was not just an innovative radio program. It was not
just the lucid words of Ga Di Ma. It wasn’t just the soulful compositions of
Babuji. It was much more.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Why
is it still so popular today? Instead of giving a theory, I might as well
narrate an incident that happened 4-5 years ago. I was returning home with my
daughter Vallarie after dinner outside. The conversation veered around to Geet
Ramayan, and she asked me if I had ever heard all the 56 songs without a break.
Of course I had, and sure enough, she had too. Several times, in fact. We were
about to reach home when she said, “shall we hear it now?” So we began
with </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="line-height: 115%;">स्वये
श्रीरामप्रभू ऐकती</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> and
instead of going back home, we started a long slow drive around Pune. We
went all the way round university, Khadki, camp, Swargate, Katraj, Chandni
Chowk and came back to Deccan but by then, Ram had just gone into exile and
everything was still hunky dory. So a second round of Pune happened, but even
by then, the battle hadn’t begun. Hanuman had just disrupted life in Lanka by
setting it alight. And so we went round Pune a third time, and as we
finally reached home at about 4 am, Lav-Kush were ready to go to Ayodhya, and Valmiki was
telling them - </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="line-height: 115%;">गा बाळानो श्रीरामायण ......<br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="AR-SA" style="line-height: 115%;">Indeed, one can hear these fifty-six songs over and over again. Why not do it once again now?<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yvZUmC34Q8&list=PLmcTH4cfTUlpIPogXutd-xfR8K4xmilv_" target="_blank">Geet Ramayan on Youtube</a></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-32583185250455783572014-04-04T21:20:00.000+05:302014-04-04T21:20:20.175+05:30On "The Music Room" by Namita Devidayal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are stages in how one reacts to Classical Music. I am
not just referring to stages of casual listening, then liking, following, collecting
and getting totally addicted.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beyond an initial liking that develops, one starts understanding the nuances and technical parts. There is the joy of discovery when one is able
to identify a certain raag, or follow a taal.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But there comes a stage when the technical aspects start
looking too formidable to comprehend. Chalan-bhed, shruti-bhed, vakra swar…. it
just keeps getting increasingly complicated. It is at such times that this book
– The Music Room – By Namita Devidayal, comes as a saviour. No, it tells you
nothing about these technicalities. It does something else, and does it very
well indeed. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It tells us how Hindustani Classical Music is not just science
or just art. It is a touching narrative of how the Guru-Shishya relationship between the author and her Guru, Dhondutai Kulkarni evolved over decades. But the book is not merely a report of events told nicely. It goes on to show us that Classical Music is actually what comes out of a melting
pot of relationships. Gurus behaving strangely with disciples (and <i>vice versa</i>), an
artist using one moment of public humiliation to trigger a fierce lifelong battle,
battle of egos, love, hate, adulation, possessiveness, it is all there.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So the next time you wonder why the same raag sounds so
different coming from two artists, remember that it is not only
because of the technical equations and mathematics. It is also because it is expression
coming from two different human beings.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-87743114160899602142012-03-26T00:46:00.003+05:302012-03-26T00:49:23.899+05:30A trash weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whats the best way to spend a Sunday morning? There can be many answers to this, but I found a new one. Deal with garbage.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_c_pjQygsWTb7jC62WourkkHdeYj_l49fWLE9Z1VL6LGAKy8iv5PesmEN_z9nYDU7S3Oz7mJS2RV2CF3dAcGYLBFWpkJBtOQ7z3olXIEfI987gOpNyLyLQKdhw5yGqTB0qF7Ux9w1UXNP/s1600/garbage_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_c_pjQygsWTb7jC62WourkkHdeYj_l49fWLE9Z1VL6LGAKy8iv5PesmEN_z9nYDU7S3Oz7mJS2RV2CF3dAcGYLBFWpkJBtOQ7z3olXIEfI987gOpNyLyLQKdhw5yGqTB0qF7Ux9w1UXNP/s320/garbage_3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After hearing and reading various opinions, and also seeing many people actually take constructive steps) I finally motivated myself to start composting the biodegradable waste I generate. Initially I thought it was going to be a rather complicated affair, requiring much time and attention. Quite the opposite. It is absurdly simple.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have got so used to doing this - fill up the bin for the whole day, then simply keep it outside the door the next morning and forget about it. Let the municipal machinery take care of it. If its not inside my home, its not my problem.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTkRgfTrnSalG3bcUKDu2bdtJ9suh5ntIdUDzuXb9iyudFINqwCOH46ZmDnxBWNexTopAdBeVagLnrHFfIpWjuoWlKNv-YhiyZHSlN5fQQTCy6eFUYorUP2D2CYuBQcme5mS3H-Tropva/s1600/garbage_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTkRgfTrnSalG3bcUKDu2bdtJ9suh5ntIdUDzuXb9iyudFINqwCOH46ZmDnxBWNexTopAdBeVagLnrHFfIpWjuoWlKNv-YhiyZHSlN5fQQTCy6eFUYorUP2D2CYuBQcme5mS3H-Tropva/s320/garbage_2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It IS, unfortunately.Many of us are not aware about what happens to the contents of our bin once it disappears from our sight. It travels to the city (gets spilt on the road in the process) and ends up in the municipal dumping ground. The ground now resembles a gigantic mountain of garbage. It can contain everything, from a staple pin to a car bumper. Of course, a large part of this montain is formed of PET bottles, shoes, electronic waste, and so much more.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People at the dump go through the painstaking process of segregating all this mess. Some pick only glass, others look only for leather goods, yet others have an eye only for PET bottles. Once they have taken these things away, the remaining bit (which hopefully is all biodegradable) should ideally get converted to compost.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think - why should others get their hands dirty (literally and figuratively) to sort the garbage that YOU generate? Making their life simple is not a huge task. It is one's responsibility, actually.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMl7Re3ANJMfdMpLSL1Hk4lKEkhL3-ANRkirz3wqB3ehOFVZsajNi-qtXYmES7Kxf8ykUWrwNuwbq8JLdfoZxCEMrJYTLGEdzgGcqiPnILdfuNvnsSmhyphenhyphenAvGROwsb9omqammXMPa4Ecmx/s1600/Compost+Pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMl7Re3ANJMfdMpLSL1Hk4lKEkhL3-ANRkirz3wqB3ehOFVZsajNi-qtXYmES7Kxf8ykUWrwNuwbq8JLdfoZxCEMrJYTLGEdzgGcqiPnILdfuNvnsSmhyphenhyphenAvGROwsb9omqammXMPa4Ecmx/s320/Compost+Pot.jpg" width="124" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start with simple things. Avoid throwing everything into one dustbin. The key lies in segregating the garbage as soon as it is born. Have two dustbins, first of all. Keep your waste segregated into dry and wet. These are misnomers actually. It actually means non-biodegradable and biodegradable. It doesn't take rocket science to figure out which is which. Then there are zillions of <a href="http://dgpspune.com/?page_id=57" target="_blank"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">resources on the net</span></a> to help you out.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then get to making compost from the wet waste. To do this, I procured earthen pots made by a Bangalore-based company, <a href="http://www.dailydump.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Daily Dump</span></a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I spent the whole of my Sunday morning installing this elegant system. I also learned a few lessons in the bargain. I realized that I had got some dry waste items in my wet-waste bin, which I had been collecting for 4-5 days, planning to get the Daily Dump on Sunday. So I had to fish out the whole thing, separate it carefully, and get the non-degradable stuff out. I had to do this for only 20 minutes, but it made me realize what the ragpickers go through for the whole day, JUST because we dont take the simple steps to segregate our garbage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it was a Sunday well spent. In the company of garbage - of my home. Composted - in my home. For my home.</span><br />
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-78849221583793584392012-03-04T23:25:00.002+05:302012-03-04T23:25:56.328+05:30The Artist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
...</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-39715678661763361812012-02-23T02:03:00.000+05:302012-02-23T02:03:24.106+05:30A date with the Government<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe I am an honest taxpayer. And I have enough papers to prove it. So in due course of time, a day arrived when I had to go further and become an honest service-tax payer. I thus braced myself for a long-drawn battle with the system to get a service tax registration number. And since I have already made the claim to being an honest taxpayer, I did not wish to approach the matter through a tout/agent.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the outset, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised that the whole system of getting a registration is now online. Wow. One would be tempted to say. That it took me seven visits to the office in spite of the system being online (or rather, because of it) is another matter. Anyway, to come to the point, the procedure sounds deceptively simple.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Go the aces.gov.in homepage and create an account for yourself. You then get a login ID and a password - the customary stuff.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Then you login and fill up a form called ST-1 and click on 'Submit'. Then take a printout of the form... wait. Here's the first catch. If you have to really take a printout, you have to achieve quite above-average literacy in the world of computers, because there is NO straightforward method to either get a printout of ST-1 or getting a PDF version of it. But I managed that.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Then one has to go to the service tax office, wait in an interminably long queue (and it could takes several such visits - it took me three) and present the ST-1 with supporting documents (PAN, addr proof etc.) and submit it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. The officer promises you that the approval of ST-1 will happen in seven working days. Which means you have to wait for a week-and-a-half, and just hope that other meaningless holidays like Mahashivratri don't make the wait longer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. It comes as no surprise that nothing happens after seven (or many more) working days. I went after sixteen, and had to create a mild form of satyagrah in the office to get the officer to approve my application in front of me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. Once approved, one simply has to login again and take a printout of the much-desired and precious entity called Form ST-2. Child's play, one would imagine. But no.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. When I eagerly logged in and, fingers quaking in anticipation, clicked on the link called 'View Latest ST-2', it asked for dates. From and To date.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That got me stumped. What dates was I supposed to put? I tried every conceivable date I could think of - date of application, date of approval, date of birth (Honest, I actually did that) but nothing worked. I tried to think logically and keyed in the start of last financial year, the date of me starting my business, but to no avail. I thought of all possible dates that would satisfy the system. 15th Aug 1947, 26th Jan 1950, 25th Jun 1983 (we won the 1st world cup), 15th Nov 1989 (Sachin made his debut), 16th Dec 1971 (Pakistan surrendered in Dhaka). But no. I was afraid to enter any of these as I was afraid my laptop will suddenly clamp shut in anger at my stupidity and crush my already-weary fingers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it was another dreary trudge to the office, when I met the officer and explained to him my predicament. He simply answered - <b>1st Jan 1994</b>. What???? Yes, he nonchalantly replied. You have to put 1st Jan 1994 as the From date and the current date as the To date.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What was worse, all through the conversation, he bore the countenance of someone who is instructing a toddler - (No dear, not that. You have to put the <i>round</i> peg in the <i>round</i> hole, see? Its really simple....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I fail to understand <b><i>why</i></b> 1st Jan 94. Fine, there may be nothing special about it, but then shouldn't there be a hint for me to enter that date?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the next four hours I spent in the office getting my ST-2 form signed, I proceeded to ask the same question to three different officers. All of them looked at me as if I was an errant schoolboy telling the Principal that the school ought to employ more attractive and sexy young women as teachers, and simply proceeded to bury themselves into the morass of files that surrounded them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the end of it all, what the officers have achieved is that another honest taxpayer is going to pay 10.3% of his earnings into the Govt. coffers. Not bad.</span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-76373820376814916472012-01-23T02:11:00.002+05:302012-01-23T02:11:44.826+05:30Where do I belong, really?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am back in this space after a long time, and it is no coincidence that the reason had to be music. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that too, music at its purest, primeval, uncluttered best. I was in Shantiniketan for three days and one evening, on the outskirts of a Santal village, I met this Baul singer singing all by himself in the middle of nowhere, totally unmindful of what was happening around him. I haven't managed to follow all the lyrics but basically the poet is telling someone (presumably a girl) to go back 'to where she really belongs.' Amazingly, the Baul manages three instruments - the 'Ektara' , a drum to hold the rhythm, and ghunghroo tieid to his legs to fill up the spaces between two 'matras' in the rhythm 1</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYaWb0TjJ6z7aT8aXla91xxS3G8AT_rMKfu9o15MXKF7zpF8fLiRNOH8vhWO469cnzVmd81SEsz3dT5VkT3g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe the Baul is singing to all of us, not just to some girl. Often I find myself having arrived (with great effort, mind you) in a certain place and then realize suddenly that I am in the wrong place. What's the option then, but to go back to where one belongs? </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-75665007649630358822011-02-13T03:45:00.001+05:302011-02-13T03:46:42.622+05:30Once upon a time....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSR72_Cm3GRtLZg0owxe3bnKBLLli2SioVa9FIi9lHOnFuOh1DABTRW81jFiDxQB97k_syvROe4fKSuk1MWLAI8jQ_sc6v0xUvwBjwgqOAZAaK0B0ypql1hfMMCojMmzgUc2RchMTJGUYf/s1600/home1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572920020716413922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSR72_Cm3GRtLZg0owxe3bnKBLLli2SioVa9FIi9lHOnFuOh1DABTRW81jFiDxQB97k_syvROe4fKSuk1MWLAI8jQ_sc6v0xUvwBjwgqOAZAaK0B0ypql1hfMMCojMmzgUc2RchMTJGUYf/s320/home1.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0J47yOc15TH0p3y25hBAIRaiX7Gju2lJF2l6WcpNlJc8ycXKrIv7-PMkZjLQLQrImuXipDrHLN1JZ-3D4zRAZPccTfou7rsmItsMZD_HzA-KkWkOJisp75m0vlzOLdp3k0eoUlsJ-Ffn/s1600/home8.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98E7Fj-MuxHJHdOFrwHsyaARG0xeX3AAbDz3Cb-uFd8S5lHDOvhNJbb1m6gZGAn3EqqJC-YOqfZVr_h7qdBjEHosSyLUoDiMtUxVPPQk_vZvZup7XTf-4H6If7AprEXqfqRr5Ehg5tC5S/s1600/home7.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2i2ZCVfIL3kk0rWaJvEmvsFN37gE2rY4rjFgN1nA6m1E0ytBuFPw1_5ntqAYDA1_Mau4T5hRZe4fdYKM0S3r0J0VsLLHIp1RttXuDQYhrfSYR8mk_CQZ5jEk3yQjmT_XMSb_QKXNnarTd/s1600/Door.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0J47yOc15TH0p3y25hBAIRaiX7Gju2lJF2l6WcpNlJc8ycXKrIv7-PMkZjLQLQrImuXipDrHLN1JZ-3D4zRAZPccTfou7rsmItsMZD_HzA-KkWkOJisp75m0vlzOLdp3k0eoUlsJ-Ffn/s1600/home8.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572921107129052018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0J47yOc15TH0p3y25hBAIRaiX7Gju2lJF2l6WcpNlJc8ycXKrIv7-PMkZjLQLQrImuXipDrHLN1JZ-3D4zRAZPccTfou7rsmItsMZD_HzA-KkWkOJisp75m0vlzOLdp3k0eoUlsJ-Ffn/s320/home8.JPG" style="height: 155px; width: 236px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2i2ZCVfIL3kk0rWaJvEmvsFN37gE2rY4rjFgN1nA6m1E0ytBuFPw1_5ntqAYDA1_Mau4T5hRZe4fdYKM0S3r0J0VsLLHIp1RttXuDQYhrfSYR8mk_CQZ5jEk3yQjmT_XMSb_QKXNnarTd/s1600/Door.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572920017922173970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2i2ZCVfIL3kk0rWaJvEmvsFN37gE2rY4rjFgN1nA6m1E0ytBuFPw1_5ntqAYDA1_Mau4T5hRZe4fdYKM0S3r0J0VsLLHIp1RttXuDQYhrfSYR8mk_CQZ5jEk3yQjmT_XMSb_QKXNnarTd/s320/Door.JPG" style="height: 160px; width: 243px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is the home of my grandparents. It would be more appropriate to say that this WAS their house. Neither of them are alive today, nor does the house now belong to any of their descendants. The house was sold off almost 20 years ago. Usually old buildings in Pune (or for that matter anywhere) have a standard fate, that of being razed to the ground and a new apartment complex coming up at that place. But this one has had to face a different twist of fate. For reasons outside the purpose of this note, the house (& adjoining Bhanuvilas movie theatre) have remained in a state of limbo for nearly twenty years.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This is the home where my grandparents lived, brought up their 11 children, witnessed the ups and downs of life together, saw people come and go for over 50 years. I have spent all my summer vacations here. Every wall, corner, window, broken door-frame - everything - is a living memory for me. Countless moments of joy, growing up with cousins, being doted over by aunts and uncles, and the omnipresent feeling of 'being at home' that my grandparents exuded.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDsb0G6kJLQ56d7RiQUVoImg8qvnJkvNidMQCObknRLvbAh2vOtCVzrA5CygeW2Pn5MvSXsvnPht5bOkcfgp2c9OigDJee9mXkdQxcs5YXPzz9SrdDRiqXcixULwFEQKD6NCB8uDwfUiJ/s1600/home4.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572920031775968850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDsb0G6kJLQ56d7RiQUVoImg8qvnJkvNidMQCObknRLvbAh2vOtCVzrA5CygeW2Pn5MvSXsvnPht5bOkcfgp2c9OigDJee9mXkdQxcs5YXPzz9SrdDRiqXcixULwFEQKD6NCB8uDwfUiJ/s320/home4.JPG" style="height: 151px; width: 227px;" /></a>I do not intend to go on a nostalgia trip here. That would be a never-ending venture. All I want to say is - I have paid attention to living beings - people, pets, plants. I have a habit of maintaining inanimate possessions very carefully - books, old pens, old pictures, my grandfather's pocket watch, and so on. But I don't think I have paid enough attention to structures which have sheltered me from the forces of the world. I may have taken them for granted, in fact. Seeing pictures of my family home has brought about this stark realisation, do I love my home enough when I am in it?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98E7Fj-MuxHJHdOFrwHsyaARG0xeX3AAbDz3Cb-uFd8S5lHDOvhNJbb1m6gZGAn3EqqJC-YOqfZVr_h7qdBjEHosSyLUoDiMtUxVPPQk_vZvZup7XTf-4H6If7AprEXqfqRr5Ehg5tC5S/s1600/home7.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572921108038564258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98E7Fj-MuxHJHdOFrwHsyaARG0xeX3AAbDz3Cb-uFd8S5lHDOvhNJbb1m6gZGAn3EqqJC-YOqfZVr_h7qdBjEHosSyLUoDiMtUxVPPQk_vZvZup7XTf-4H6If7AprEXqfqRr5Ehg5tC5S/s320/home7.JPG" style="height: 142px; width: 215px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfshkaIDwffihPE9xx3pud8-d0FKg-Y6zYsRwn4rOc5-HRY4nmDhwUAozEBLVbKdNhwfH6OaeoX5a6kUR6Li6fzuf8Dhs9_cknv9sRkbIyAvgBibWtKThcgSgIlY3e5Bvkr9veWWmPvQk/s1600/home3.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572920031361976050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfshkaIDwffihPE9xx3pud8-d0FKg-Y6zYsRwn4rOc5-HRY4nmDhwUAozEBLVbKdNhwfH6OaeoX5a6kUR6Li6fzuf8Dhs9_cknv9sRkbIyAvgBibWtKThcgSgIlY3e5Bvkr9veWWmPvQk/s320/home3.JPG" style="height: 151px; width: 227px;" /></a>This wada at 343, Narayan Peth, Pune and the adjoining Bhanuvilas Talkies will also become a part of history sooner or later. They can't remain like this indefinitely. But I shall forever be grateful to this place for showing me what a home is all about. Most of all, this space provides me with the answer to the existential question - where do I belong? Yes, I belong to this soil, this is where I came from, this is who I am.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">My grandpa must have sat in this very place when he dreamt of the countless business ventures that he started. And then seen many of them go bust, one after the other. Through all this, my grandma would have kept the home fires burning, often by selling one by one her family heirloom jewels, must have sat here and written those letters to him. The letter would reach him when he was in jail, where he spent half his working career, just because he decided to follow a path that Gandhi showed. Yes, this is where I have come from.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVG-sYKK8ejrHNNrB0lPnWHAmSYr2qQ8LsqTm1uZJ3URCl4VDgxzyT83sTl3LMEAazqkc1635r3PL9KqgHvu6SaoaFq9F2OhkkhYChX2ctNhGiwzZvAnQRokzYekmvVFtfrM6jOL2S-LM/s1600/home5.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572921100133912034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVG-sYKK8ejrHNNrB0lPnWHAmSYr2qQ8LsqTm1uZJ3URCl4VDgxzyT83sTl3LMEAazqkc1635r3PL9KqgHvu6SaoaFq9F2OhkkhYChX2ctNhGiwzZvAnQRokzYekmvVFtfrM6jOL2S-LM/s320/home5.JPG" style="height: 148px; width: 223px;" /></a>Every time a space beckons to us, tugs at our heart and asks us to stay back, we resort to saying the good old इदं न मम. (This is not mine.) But a day comes when you take a pause in the race, and say to yourself, "Yes, this IS mine."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUumUYE6cade_mkNAF_AEBm10A7Wsb5AUX05Ezq3boiYecfmJMxBIktwsPXheApPF6_-bHas79iE3Dwiu2CHORx9J5e-2rmPKwz-NjOnFR9P8SYvcI0BUUdMiNC5apLURe3VDFzoVHGFWl/s1600/home6.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572921102745276050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUumUYE6cade_mkNAF_AEBm10A7Wsb5AUX05Ezq3boiYecfmJMxBIktwsPXheApPF6_-bHas79iE3Dwiu2CHORx9J5e-2rmPKwz-NjOnFR9P8SYvcI0BUUdMiNC5apLURe3VDFzoVHGFWl/s320/home6.JPG" style="height: 144px; width: 218px;" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Kabir must have realized that "this is not mine" when he said</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">उड</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">जाएगा</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">हंस</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">अकेला</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> . Yes, a day will come when I too, will fly off. Like my grandpa, my grandma, my father, and now my mother has. This bird will fly away too, not knowing where its destination is, but surely knowing where its roots lie. And therein lies a surety that we often seek.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">(Note - All photographs by Aniruddha Bhate. I am sure he doesn't mind me posting them here. His roots lie here too, after all.)</div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-43041554745612082102011-01-25T12:47:00.005+05:302011-01-25T16:53:00.190+05:30Tribute to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As a child, I still recall the first time I heard the Shuddha Kalyan by Panditji - बतिया तोरा, on a 78 RPM record. 40 years have passed but its magic has not worn off even a wee bit. Later in college days, his three evergreen compositions - सोहे लरा री in Kedar, धन धन मंगल गावो in Kalashree and तू रस का in Durga triggered off an everlasting addiction of classical music.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Then one late night on top of Fort Rajmachi, one of us was fiddling with the transistor, which caught on unknown station and started playing 'सखी मंद झाल्या तारका'. For a moment we relaxed back into our sleeping bags and then suddenly sat up dazed. The voice was Bhimsenji's, not Sudhir Phadke! We could not quite believe our ears that the same powerful voice which had sung रम्य ही स्वर्गाहुनी लंका could bring out such soulful rendering of 'ते प्रेमगाणे छेडणारा सूर तू होशील का'. (If you still haven't heard this, you can do so now on esnips).</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And the several early mornings of the concluding recital in Sawai - Ramkali, Jogiya or an Ahir Bhairav, and his ending it with a Bhairavi. How can anyone ever forget his बाबुल मोरा नैहर छूटो जाय?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Then, at the end as everyone stood up to pay homage to Sawai Gandharva and his Bhairavi record was being played, one could see Panditji standing with his head bowed down, humility and respect personified.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I will forever remain indebted to him for showing this huge treasure to me. I am sure there are millions of others with whom I share these sentiments today.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">What can one say about the greatness of a person who has enthralled millions of fans for over <b>seven decade</b>s with his singing?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">All I can do is post a clip from an recording, from way back in 1954. (God bless the soul who thought of recording it then.) Its an captivating rendering of Yaman lasting for nearly an hour (कैसन की - विलंबित एकताल, शाम बजाये आज मुरलिया - द्रुत तीनताल and then a तराणा in द्रुत एकताल.) </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I am no expert on Pt. Bhimsen Joshi (I still cannot bring myself to writing 'Late' before his name) but I think he rarely sang a tarana. Am posting only the last bit of the recording here. The photographs are from Google, thanks to all the photographers. I think they won't mind me using these pictures here. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It is only appropriate that I should pay homage to him by posting a tarana in Yaman, a raag that is often sung in the beginning of a concert. Kumarji once said that when words fall short of expressing emotions, a Tarana takes over.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">With this, I can start a new phase of devoted listening to his voice.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='268' height='222' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw9TfPIIyVTjRWkWevqMNgtwwPlYwhQxTrVasO4QKhIkdRE8BY96uFtlAs0kvO0cLWnwjLM2vFlMIDwjgdxnw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-11694152634484230542010-12-24T15:30:00.001+05:302010-12-24T15:32:13.917+05:30Whither non-violence? Or Wither non-violence?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While in Bhubaneshwar, I was curious to go and see the 'Shanti Stupa', a memorial to commemorate Emperor Ashok's 'change of heart' after witnessing the carnage of the Kalinga Battle. The visit was eminently disappointing, to say the least.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Kalinga battle has been taught to every Indian child in history classes and portrayed as an event that shaped Indian culture and its ethos of non-violence. Ashok himself has been immortalized by his 'Chakra' on our flag and his Lion capital being our national emblem. Given the importance of this event and Ashok's contribution to India, I expected a lot from this monument. The reality turned out to be quite different.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6aq8gJrftqLcnEeeVS9s9kmeUZ2FHc2NjC4UkOJ_eP7AZ-netf_0TDkRJWWE7UsU0fNPWGE5mU8gXfm09BMPihwuH71KZCBzRfXNnXX_F3iseO_5Bwyz5eXJKGzu0xUOTXsu5DAr8qJa/s1600/Shanti_stupa4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6aq8gJrftqLcnEeeVS9s9kmeUZ2FHc2NjC4UkOJ_eP7AZ-netf_0TDkRJWWE7UsU0fNPWGE5mU8gXfm09BMPihwuH71KZCBzRfXNnXX_F3iseO_5Bwyz5eXJKGzu0xUOTXsu5DAr8qJa/s200/Shanti_stupa4.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A stark white stupa stands atop a small hillock at Dhauli, about 20 km. from Bhubaneshwar. It has four statues of Buddha, each in a different pose on the sides. Eight lions stand watching outward, towards the vast plains that witnessed </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">the grim battle of Kalinga.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v3djtPd-_2RO3GBTBxocGl0I0Qr5Y6Yhs8P2R4pQWdxGDx-K_wFAOH_eZ0zMVl-H-c4jcsmw7-i5QtRhg87YL_AznJ_kWUBJJZUeSss4TfC2yS0jRlLDPOK6D0il2WZHgVf1nvaRcXm5/s1600/Shanti_stupa2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v3djtPd-_2RO3GBTBxocGl0I0Qr5Y6Yhs8P2R4pQWdxGDx-K_wFAOH_eZ0zMVl-H-c4jcsmw7-i5QtRhg87YL_AznJ_kWUBJJZUeSss4TfC2yS0jRlLDPOK6D0il2WZHgVf1nvaRcXm5/s200/Shanti_stupa2.jpg" width="171" /></a><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That's it. There is not a single plaque, not a word written anywhere in the premises stating the importance of this place. I later found out that the stupa was actually built by the Japanese Kalinga Nipppon Buddha Sangh as recently as 1971.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Steps leading up to the stupa are flanked by the usual shops selling odd assortment of objects, the kind of shops that one sees outside any Indian temple. The place appears to be a popular picnic spot for people. While returning I couldn't hold on to my disappointment and feigning enough ignorance, I asked the taxi driver whether this place had any significance or whether the stupa was built here 'just like that'. He said he didn't know. Then as an afterthought, he said "you know Ashok, the King? It has some connection with him". Some saving grace, at least.</span></span></div><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I would like to find out at what stage did Kalinga war gain importance in our history books. Were our grandfathers told about it? I recall what Pavan Verma says about this in 'The Great Indian Middle class'.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Quote - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">....contributing to the weave of the middle-class Indian's thinking was a romaticization of India's past. The basis for this was not any serious study or analysis but an emotional pride in a mythical past where India, prior to her humiliating subjugations, was a land of prosperity and plenty, culturally efflorescent, morally awakened, and politically powerful.... Gandhi's invocation of the Ram Rajya undoubtedly contributed to the conjuring up of such a historical vision. But the consciously intellectual Nehru was also not immune to such sentimentalizations.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The attempt to make ahimsa or non-violence a bequeath of the past was particularly laboured. In the case of Gandhi, faith easily triumphed over historical accuracy. Certain leaders, like Ashoka, were selectively highlighted for his principled pacifism, and others forgotten. The amazing thing is that even Nehru, for all his emphasis on dispassionate analysis of historical forces, concluded: 'Right through history the old Indian ideal did not glorify political and military triumph, and looked down upon money and the professional money-making class'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Unquote -</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If all this was not enough, what followed that evening gave me another insight into how the definition of non-violence is used with convenience by Indians. I also decided to visit Lingaraj temple, and as soon as I stepped out of the taxi, the pandas mobbed me, one and all. "100 rupees, will take you around the whole temple. Darshan also." As I doggedly ignored them and walked towards the temple, some pandas fell away to chase someone more gullible than me while others kept following. By the time I was the temple entrance, the rate was down to 20 rupees, with a promise of telling me all the stories about the temple. I kept looking straight ahead and as soon as I entered, only one resolute panda remained, with the rate down to 5 rupees. Eventually I told him that I would manage on my own and was quite OK without the stories. Surprisingly, he became rather violent and started shouting at me. "What do you mean you have only come to see? This is a temple, this is not a zoo. If you want to just see, go to the zoo."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I had half a mind of giving him one tight slap but there were too many of his kind around. Non-violence is the better part of valour, I thought. And the next morning, I realized that I may have made a rather wise choice. The newspaper told a story of two priests in Jagannath temple attacking another one with an iron rod (over 'territorial' rights of the temple) and causing him grievous head injury. The news item reminded the readers of a bizarre incident six months ago when <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Police-still-clueless-in-Lingaraj-priest-murder-case/articleshow/6289664.cms" style="color: #fce5cd;">three priests actually murdered another one</a> very close to the Lingaraj temple premises. The murdered priest's brother had to be temporarily released from jail to perform the last rites. He was in jail for a brawl that had broken out between priests just two days ago...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ashok may have been right, after all. But the priests don't know about it yet.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-5927076791477929762010-10-15T02:33:00.001+05:302010-10-15T02:36:27.714+05:30Be a sport....<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The curtain has just come down on CWG 2010 and the media has been overflowing with medal-news, and for very good reason. India has put up a great performance, and the efforts of all athletes, who have or not have won a medal, must be applauded. It was a great show. The grit of Saina, the tenacity of Jwala and Ashwini, or the sheer dogged persistence of Harminder (bronze medal in 20 km walk, in case you missed him.) The medal sweep in women's discus, or the gold in women's 4x400 relay. Many more. Not to forget the unheralded heroes of swimming and gymnastics.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4-L1zkIX7RUKwG1Lns4uXMqPLn9_rWzQs-vIZmJUz_DEaK8mJUn3QBVP6zyh4ADO2mvoRERAE3gV1ga6eejvIxXww47F2ZN-1Si-yer8iLYwBzQmRZJviuqT16z4suoqABK6rPrmN9Xf/s1600/saina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4-L1zkIX7RUKwG1Lns4uXMqPLn9_rWzQs-vIZmJUz_DEaK8mJUn3QBVP6zyh4ADO2mvoRERAE3gV1ga6eejvIxXww47F2ZN-1Si-yer8iLYwBzQmRZJviuqT16z4suoqABK6rPrmN9Xf/s200/saina.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Picture Courtesy - Google</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was watching an NDTV debate focusing on the future of Indian sports, and whether the medal bonanza will give a much-needed boost to Indian sports. While watching the debate, this question popped in my head.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What place does spectator involvement hold in a sport getting promoted?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Look at how the sports rules have changed in past years to make them more spectator-friendly. Table-tennis changed, badminton changed, hockey changed. Come on, even CRICKET's changed. Let's not forget the fact that the most popular sport in the world is football. The stadium can hold thousands of people, fast game, has only one break (usually) and the result is out in less than two hours. A far cry from Test Cricket that runs for five days. (Its another matter that I am a great cricket fan.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the face of all these changes, what is the future of sports like shooting and archery?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Whenver I was watching the CWG telecast, I admit that I switched channels if they were showing shooting, archery or lawn balls. As for shooting, at least skeet or clay pigeon is a bit exciting to watch. But all the other variants (10 mt, 25 mt, rifle, pistol, standing, prone, single, pair, whatever) have little to offer to the viewer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_K37WBsFbAdMsAATmI4lkFwrPK1No9xYpnYAz-lENmS7ljBQOieGDs__XIw4zeG1-Db_1ca231WUPvbYiyxVRNkkE_S0r-5Z-7Kf-3gAmvSELPmkCzyo5LYL5zOWM_Ywu5ZuxKFxc4ig/s1600/Bindra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_K37WBsFbAdMsAATmI4lkFwrPK1No9xYpnYAz-lENmS7ljBQOieGDs__XIw4zeG1-Db_1ca231WUPvbYiyxVRNkkE_S0r-5Z-7Kf-3gAmvSELPmkCzyo5LYL5zOWM_Ywu5ZuxKFxc4ig/s200/Bindra.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6R_JP-EjZ0Deh3JqontFuhyn7rt1Ns-dyiX94p5LD9kihC4kxke6GrwCQPS64xOnKoF9ewytjuTBzdeS1SQfBj2_7hIdJe31Za1VYIE_X0ggzQmEKNOwFiKOLpvqp_cYW7mH78epsnOS/s1600/saina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Picture Courtesy - Google</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I also don't believe that spectator involvement is the only thing that makes the sport popular. If that were the case,then wrestling and gymnastics should have been hugely popular in India by now. Nor is the presence of world champions (or equivalent, whatever that is) enough to guarantee popularity. Once again, if that were true, billiards and snooker should have become hot pursuits by now. (I recently spent weeks looking for a snooker table in Pune - finally found one) But they have not.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I would hasten to repeat what I have said in the beginning - that I do not wish to take away the credit of any athlete who strived hard to be in the CWG. But as for the future of some sports in our country, I wonder if.....</span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-9977834218196639822010-10-01T03:14:00.001+05:302010-10-01T15:03:50.416+05:30Ayodhya - the one without war...<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Long long ago, when I was a little boy, I asked my Dad,<br />
What exactly was this thing called partition, was it really bad?<br />
He answered with a heavy voice, just imagine son<br />
If the line was between Pune and Mumbai, wouldn't that be sad?<br />
I was horrified. Coz Pune was where my grandma stayed<br />
and Mumbai was where we changed trains every summer<br />
I had wondered, could someone be so stupid?<br />
To draw a line between two cities? So bad?<br />
But then.... somebody had.<br />
<br />
Many years later, when I still believed, naively,<br />
that famous people just kind of passed away <br />
I mean, just peacefully, you know, just like that</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Till that one day when I saw<br />
a Prime Minister become a crumpled heap of blood and guts<br />
I couldn't believe that someone could be so mad<br />
But then..... somebody had.<br />
<br />
More years passed, and I thought <br />
I was grown up to understand it enough<br />
I believed that only capability mattered, not caste<br />
And that stupid rules were a thing of the past<br />
But then, I saw a student<br />
must have been just about my age then<br />
Who set himself ablaze, and<br />
the frenzied mob did little to save him<br />
I still thought, how could others be so bad?<br />
But then... sombody had.<br />
<br />
Some more years passed, and I thought all was OK.<br />
For there was this young man who said to the world<br />
"India is an old country and a young nation<br />
and I am young, and I have a dream."<br />
He seemed to set all things right,<br />
when one day,<br />
I saw him too being blown to small bits<br />
So much that all they could find of him were his shoes<br />
I had ALWAYS wondered, could anyone be so mad?<br />
But then.... somebody had.<br />
<br />
Even more years passed, at least by now I should have learnt<br />
For my entire childhood was spent quite close to a mosque<br />
That it didn't matter which God you bowed to<br />
As long as you were humane to one and all<br />
But I then saw a mindless mob tear down a mosque<br />
Did they gain anything from it at all?<br />
I wished nobody had<br />
But then.... somebody had.<br />
<br />
By then, i was sure I was old enough to understand<br />
That night in a chowk in Pune<br />
I was in that frenzied mob, all wide-eyed<br />
Watching on a screen a horde climb those domes<br />
Armed with crude weapons, deadly nevertheless<br />
Shouting hoarse a name which I thought stood for integrity<br />
But they showed none, were just proud to exhibit brutality<br />
I still looked askance, how could anyone be so mad?<br />
But then.... someone had.<br />
<br />
Not too far back, some men simply sailed across the sea<br />
And happily went around shooting anyone they could see<br />
They went to those very places, where I had made friends<br />
Some of my friends lay dead as I watched horrified<br />
All I did was howled and cried<br />
Yes, I too lit a candle, but<br />
That wouldn't have brought my friends back<br />
Really, how could someone be so mad?<br />
But then ... someone had.<br />
<br />
Many years have passed, and I have greyed now<br />
Have long since stopped asking the question<br />
How can anybody be so mad?<br />
I was afraid I would have to ask it again today.<br />
But then.....</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-51502176168845051612010-09-24T00:30:00.000+05:302010-09-24T00:30:24.167+05:30Mockery of justice once again.<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;">A public interest litigation filed by one Mr. Ramesh Chand Tripathi in the Supreme Court has been decided in his favour. Apparently, Mr. Tripathi wants the Lucknow court to defer its verdict on Ayodhya because he feels that this might lead to communal riots. Where's the logic in this, Mr. Tripathi? All you have achieved is a delay in the final verdict on this festering matter.</span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">It is a contempt of court according to me. I am no legal expert, even by the remotest stretch of imagination. But I still feel this way. Appealing to one court to stall another court is just a cheap trick, I am afraid to say. Why do I say it is contempt of court? Because stalling one judgement out of the fear of communal riots means not believing in the fact that law and justice are above everything else. EVERYTHING ELSE, mind you. I wish the Supreme Court had asked Tripathi to mind his own business than give him a patient hearing.</span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">This has all gone into another endless loop, I am afraid. A loop that has extended over five decades already. Why can't we end this meaningless loop and get on with more important issues that face the country?</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Just yesterday lakhs of Ganesh idols were immersed into rivers all across the country. As I understand, this is done to signal to the devotee that s/he should not get irrevocably attached to God in the form of an idol and rather look inwards for the existence of God. Exactly for this purpose, the idols are supposed to be made of clay. Earth, that is. That which is indestructible. And then we allow the whole country of over a billion people to be held ransom over one STRUCTURE?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-46600516025735906452010-09-04T02:32:00.002+05:302010-09-04T11:44:01.875+05:30Too much information - is it dangerous?<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">There is so much information on the net. Too much, I sometimes feel.<br />
Its not just the sheer amount of information that bothers me. Its the accessibility and more, its usability that is causing me stress. <br />
We have heard this before now - children can complete their school projects by clicking a few sites here and there and downloading the information that they want. Its a different matter that all projects from a class must be looking alike.<br />
What you want to know? Whatever it is - just Google it. That's the way to go about gathering information now.<br />
My stress has gone up a few notches since I came back from Shivpuri (near Rishikesh) having conducted a staff training program for the outdoor safety instructors from <a href="http://www.snowleopardadventures.com/" style="color: #ffe599;">Snow Leopard Adventures, Delhi</a>. Two instances stand out in my mind.<br />
We were talking about safety aspects when dealing with adventure activities that involve ropes and mainly- HEIGHT. The topic veered around to the use of ascenders (commonly called Jumar) and then went on to using a prusik knot. I spent better part of one full day explaining the intricacies of a prusik knot and its do's and dont's to the group.<br />
On another day, we had a session about snakes. I mean - safety aspects regarding snakes and snakebite on an outdoor site. I wished I could have shown them live examples and given them an opportunity to actually handle a snake but that was not possible. So I had to make do with a whiteboard (and the participants had to make do with my horrendous sketching skills!) Obviously, the key topic was identifying whether a snake is poisonous or not.<br />
After I was back in Pune, I did some searching around on the net on these two topics and was swamped by some thousands of websites, blogs, e-forums etc. that provided every bit of useful and useless information on these critical topics.<br />
What would happen if someone who has half-cooked knowledge reads all the information and makes a decision whether a snake is poisonous or not? I shudder to imagine the consequences. for example - here is the description of a Russel's Viper from the internet - (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daboia" style="color: #ffe599;">sourced from Wikipedia</a>)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Quote - </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The nostrils are large, in the middle of a large, single nasal scale. The lower edge of the nasal touches the nasorostral. The supranasal has a strong crescent shape and separates the nasal from the nasorostral anteriorly. The rostral is as broad as it is high. The crown of the head is covered with irregular, strongly fragmented scales. The supraocular scales are narrow, single, and separated by 6–9 scales across the head. The eyes are large, flecked with yellow or gold, and each is surrounded by 10–15 circumorbital scales. There are 10–12 supralabials, the 4th and 5th of which are significantly larger. The eye is separated from the supralabials by 3–4 rows of suboculars. There are two pairs of chin shields, the front pair of which are notably enlarged. The two maxillary bones support at least two and at the most five or six pairs of fangs at a time: the first are active and the rest replacements.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Unquote -</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Of course, all the information is accurate. (Sometimes it is not accurate either, but that's a different matter altogether.) But does it make sense to someone who has partial knowledge about vipers? One may argue that this information is meant for those who already know the subject well and are looking for reference material. My argument is - if someone knows the subject well then s/he might not bother to look up Wikipedia anyway. My worry is about those who don't know enough and are looking for information.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Many people regard fire and wheel as the greatest life-changing inventions/discoveries for mankind. Sure, they are important. But I consider two other inventions that have markedly shaped the lives of human beings.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">1. The printing press</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">2. Internet</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Both served the same purpose in a way. The democratization of knowledge. What was once known to a handful of people could be now disseminated to a large polulation. The printing press achieved this with some thousand individuals, the internet exploded this to several billion.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Don't get me wrong. I am NOT against making information accessible. I am only worried about people who read and conclude that now know it all. Let me use another example from the same case to illustrate this - <br />
Quote - <br />
When threatened they form a series of S-loops, raise the first third of the body and produce a hiss that is supposedly louder than that of any other snake.<br />
Unquote - <br />
No matter how many times one reads this and claims to have 'understood', it is impossible to compare it with the hiss of a LIVE Russell's Viper. Once you have actually heard it, you will never forget it. Now some techie can put forth the argument that the hiss can also be heard online. But I disagree. Hearing a viper hissing when you are sitting comfortably in your home tapping away at the keyboard cannot be compared to hearing it live.<br />
There is too much information already. A lot of it is useless (few zillion pictures of Bikini Babes and Celebrity Chicks, just to quote a few examples). An equally large lot of it is dangerous, according to me. And I am not even talking about information on how to make bombs and such other stuff. I am talking about information about many risky situations that is easily accessible to anyone who knows where to look for it.<br />
Do I have a solution to this? I admit that I don't.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-88512959349153374992010-08-06T01:14:00.000+05:302010-08-06T01:14:43.029+05:30Corruption-wealth Games<div style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">Once again, the powers-that-be of my beloved country leave me surprised. The good part is, I am left pleasantly surprised.<br />
Two top aides of the Corruption-in-Chief, Suresh Kalmadi, were sacked today post the findings of an investigation committee. This leads the already much-beleaguered Commonwealth Games further into a morass. Maybe not. After all the mess that these fellows have created, what worse could they have done? But no, thanks. They have been sacked.<br />
Firstly, why am I surprised? Simply because while I have followed the media hollering about the malpractices going on in the preparations leading upto the CWG, I had always feared that all this will be pushed under the carpet. It is easy to play emotional blackmail with us Indians. All that one has to say is - "You see, the Games are just two months away. Why don't we all join hands (Ahem!) and make the Games successful. Our country's prestige and image depends on that. Once the Games are over, we will surely investigate all matters and all those guilty will be punished." In fact, they already had said something to the similar effect. It is another matter that some cynical Indians (me included, of course) never believe such lip service.<br />
After all, the Commonwealth Youth Games held in Pune last year were a disaster. Did anyone get punished? No. The main road that is close to where I stay is STILL BEING BUILT AFTER THREE YEARS!!!!!!! The stadiums are still in a pathetic conditions. They WERE pathetic even when the Youth Games were on. So how do you expect anything different to happen in the BIG Commonwealth Games? All the more, when the man behind these two events is the same? Kalmadi, of course.<br />
Now now now. There are some little glitches in the whole thing, isn't it? The so-called "investigation committee" was ordered by none other than Suresh Kalmadi himself. Which is like the robber cleaning up the safe, then borrowing the whistle from a cop and blowing it hard, yelling, "THIEVES, THIEVES, THIEVES. Help, Help, HEEEEEEELLLPPP!"<br />
Anyways, now that someone has been sacked, what are the possible scenarios?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>1. Someone who can crack the whip will be in command. He/She will confess to all the participating countries by saying, "OK, we admit we goofed up. But we will try our level best to make the Games a success. I hope you will all cooperate." The Games will have glitches, but will certainly happen.<br />
2. The Games will actually end up being a fiasco and Indian inefficiency will be out in the open for everyone to see.<br />
3. The Games will happen with much fanfare. The glitches will be effectively covered up. Kalmadi will smile on the front pages of all the newspapers and give brave interviews to all channels. And then all will be forgotten.<br />
In all likelihood, I fear that scenario no. 3 will happen. Still, I just wish that my country surprises me again.<br />
In all this mayhem, I heard the news that Kalmadi actually asked the Cabinet to sanction 55 crores (or some such equally preposterous sum of money) to kick-start the country's bid to host the 2019 Asian Games! That, according to me, is a new definition of brazen-ness and sheer shameless<br />
audacity. Thankfully, the Cabinet had the sense to say "first manage the mess of CWG that you have already created, then we can think of other things".<br />
It seems to be a season of surprises.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-22117024204949761392010-07-10T21:59:00.004+05:302010-07-10T22:07:56.582+05:30Octopus Paul becomes TV host<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The mass hysteria that Octopus Paul has created amongst football fans worldwide has to be given due consideration. (Not to speak of the jealousy caused to millions of octopuses in the ocean). Keeping this, and viewers' interests in mind, it would be only appropriate if Paul also hosts the pre-match show tomorrow. Mayanti Langer can have a day off. Here's a sneak preview...</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgama5UXiBm3rfxMTMRO3Be9vIbAxTzUcquqVEh_2r1s2yQoUNbYgIIXCUakGZf1PD69o5onQNxFOU8NGsmwy4qjrrzCqFVbozyANhsqTDVogHdKbmp1R73KFfrzIDSdwOQGrhWla9Ydyxh/s1600/TV+Show+Paul.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgama5UXiBm3rfxMTMRO3Be9vIbAxTzUcquqVEh_2r1s2yQoUNbYgIIXCUakGZf1PD69o5onQNxFOU8NGsmwy4qjrrzCqFVbozyANhsqTDVogHdKbmp1R73KFfrzIDSdwOQGrhWla9Ydyxh/s320/TV+Show+Paul.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492316357811053458" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-64313026813681287272010-06-30T00:56:00.003+05:302010-06-30T01:10:09.019+05:30Bad TV commercial<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Some TV commercials bring a smile to your face. Others bring a question mark. Then there are yet others that bring a frown.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This one of a UPS is currently running on national channels. Anyone who knows what a UPS is already understands what it is supposed to deliver. It is not some big secret feature. Now there could have been a thousand ideas to show something that charges fast and provides non-stop power. Of all these possible ideas, these fellows could only think of - THIS ? Watch it for yourself.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='277' height='230' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dysn6CizI7kM6jpubGy3LDXJJUBpdNiY3zGp5xfB7dadJF4D_khU-hYhf6C0_84g0UnyRkGyXv33wTK3gzg_Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:verdana;">I think it is crude and in rank bad taste. Awful. I am not even getting into the area of PG-rated stuff and all that. In any case, I am glad that I don't have little children who might ask me, "Dad, what did that advertisement mean?" (My friend's daughter once told her to buy 'that nice kind of blotting paper which they show on TV')</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">PG issues apart, I am quite aghast that this stupid advt could get clearance for screening.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Do tell me if you agree with my views. Is there some way that such stuff can be forced to be taken off air?<br />It is also possible that I might just be getting too old for the current times and you are free to tell me that too.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have distorted parts of the advt on purpose. Why should this brand get further mileage? If I post it as it is, I will simply be giving more publicity to what I find objectionable. </span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-53960454714617014282010-06-26T03:17:00.010+05:302010-06-26T05:08:07.772+05:30FIFA 2010 - a tournament of Humpty-Dumptys?<div style="text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;">Football statisticians have a far easier job than their colleagues who keep track of cricket statistics. There is no end to cricket statistics. There are so many variable that you can just go on and on.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> In football matches, there are fewer variables - just the percentage possession, shots on target, corner kicks, fouls, and just about a few more. Hmmmm... is that all? No, there's more interesting stuff! Falling!!!</span><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjO_lubaEMH3ru6b77HU_L8QcIIv474QWIO60mvodSaaBvdJD9gs_YxtSp0eLgLyz-uaE6piGqwXQLDLYoZdMogxAnnFjjqPFB0SzZdST3Xynx2ZF1TO94CcBgJ3JvV-7UhWDRZbeT3mI/s1600/tackle1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486832213601432114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjO_lubaEMH3ru6b77HU_L8QcIIv474QWIO60mvodSaaBvdJD9gs_YxtSp0eLgLyz-uaE6piGqwXQLDLYoZdMogxAnnFjjqPFB0SzZdST3Xynx2ZF1TO94CcBgJ3JvV-7UhWDRZbeT3mI/s320/tackle1.jpg" style="height: 176px; width: 211px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:78%;" >Source - Google/www.fifa.com</span><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;">So I thought I must invent some new statistical variables for football. The inspiration for this brainless activity came from the just-concluded Spain-Chile match. The first half left an impression that players spent more time in falling down and getting up than trying to score goals. So during the second half, this is what I did.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a>I kept a count of how many times a player in possession of the ball had physical contact with another who was attempting to tackle. I decided to ignore the jostling that goes on in the 6-yard area during a corner kick or free kick. That is impossible to count. So out of the ones that I kept track of, I kept a count of how many times one or both players fell to the ground. And here are the astounding results.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimw7Iir7ME76IrSvFiRg4Fk_K2SC-9mcv-5M3Lc_kXyEZSP16zBoyI1l38fUGkkltdd4f2qH8Kx1aEwMWNkNjENjEpWVZ0E_PeRBzlWTJzQw2I0ZpEB6HFQeeTRQBfd2DVl5qhUyv2ZzA/s1600/tackle3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img style="width: 233px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimw7Iir7ME76IrSvFiRg4Fk_K2SC-9mcv-5M3Lc_kXyEZSP16zBoyI1l38fUGkkltdd4f2qH8Kx1aEwMWNkNjENjEpWVZ0E_PeRBzlWTJzQw2I0ZpEB6HFQeeTRQBfd2DVl5qhUyv2ZzA/s320/tackle3.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;">Source - Google/www.zimbio.com</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In 45 minutes, I counted 44 tackles, and as many as 21 of these results in 'ouch'. Roughly one out of every two times that a tackle happens, one or both players can be seen writhing on the pitch, clutching their knees (43%), ankles (29%) or just their foreheads (28%). OK, am kidding about the anatomy break-up. I didn't track <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span>. But 21 out of 44 is real. No faking there!<br />So is football increasingly becoming a game of theatrical dives and play-acting than playing? There is much talk during FIFA 2010 of inconsistent refereeing. But what about inconsistencies in the game arising out of these fake dives? It is not surprising that <a href="http://www.despair.com">www.despair.com</a> even thought of making a poster on this theme. See this....</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9EreI2O9N8GFWtlQigJCKjsQVq5sVypijaITs7mGJCOsLCCXNyprSvrXmRGYpy7djbY9kYYFdv3AuP_01GhTH5DDwGMfXi2I9d8OTYJ4TSqlCaw2WVzLcwqUWkO07RavrnwbDuQzYh6m/s1600/whining.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486833122577516946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9EreI2O9N8GFWtlQigJCKjsQVq5sVypijaITs7mGJCOsLCCXNyprSvrXmRGYpy7djbY9kYYFdv3AuP_01GhTH5DDwGMfXi2I9d8OTYJ4TSqlCaw2WVzLcwqUWkO07RavrnwbDuQzYh6m/s320/whining.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 194px; width: 232px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Source - www.despair.com<br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span>The often quoted inspirational bit about "its not important how many times you fall, but how quickly you get up" is proving to be rather irrelevant for football. Here, it <span style="font-style: italic;">does</span> count how you fall!<br />A little search showed up these hilarious videos. Have fun!<br /><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='248' height='205' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxPpNR3SsrXpD5V3uZrq2QvNN_llHOpAAEIXW3UyU2hVBQYVRagUR_mcu-Mnn62SdTYR6qVh4sHja_YZZ0R7w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Source: Youtube</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you thought that was funny, wait till you see this one...</span><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='266' height='220' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyot_mHWkPmjKw6lWksVaHSIuLZc65KrALF2L9WSyG7gXS6en23qCvNvYfPclmI6P-J21tCTFrrPU2QVCO7tA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Source: Youtube</span></span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-74680067987936724802010-06-18T02:09:00.001+05:302010-06-18T02:12:29.964+05:30Simplify life - watch TV after midnight<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you happen to have the genes of a bat or an owl (like me) and tend to watch TV in the wee hours of the night, then don't read this. Because you would already know what I am going to say. For others, read on and get enlightened.<br />
Post midnight, there are the following categories of programs available for you.<br />
1. Channels from a certain part of Indian geography (OK OK, I am just being politically correct. Like the news reporters who think they get away by saying "people of a certain community...") that show songs of only one type. And that type is called 'conjug... sorry, communal gymnastics in the rain'.<br />
2. Then there are the omnipresent news channels who show nothing new. What's new in that, you may ask. DON'T ask!<br />
<br />
That's all? Is that ALLLL ?? No my dear early-to-bed-early-to-rise friends, that's not all. Don't be disheartened. The third category is actually a VAST category. A category that cynics might write off in one phrase as 'online TV shopping'. But actually it is a mind-boggling cornucopia of products that promise to make your life simple. Here's a sample of what you can get. JUST a sample. This is by no means the complete list.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a>i. Magical gadgets to do all your kitchen work in a jiffy. No more chopping away at onions while wiping tears, use THIS instead!<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">ii. Amazing gadgets to repair dents on your car in matter of seconds.<br />
iii. A.G.T.R. scratches on your car I.M.O.S.<br />
iv. Sofa-cum-bed-cum-God knows what else. And guess what, you can also drag this contraption behind your SUV. Just for fun!<br />
v. Lockets, bracelets, gems and their cousins to ward off evil spirits, ghosts, not to mention बुरी नज़र...<br />
vi. Handycams. Yes.<br />
vii. Spycams. Yessssssss..... <br />
viii. Fitness gizmos. You will never see any of these in your gym. Why? Of course! Your gym owner doesn't watch TV! He doesn't know the magical qualities of these gadgets, you see? Available in all possible shapes and sizes . I am NOT referring to the models that sell these, I am talking about the products, you dirty minds...!<br />
ix. Pheromones. I am NOT joking, serious!<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So all you there who go to sleep at 10, you are missing this life-simplifying phenomenon.<br />
OK, jokes apart. I may be naive here, but please tell me, have ANY of you EVER bought ANYTHING that is shown on these shows? I am yet to come across even one person. I can't boast of being highly gregarious, but yes, I do have a large circle of friends and it can't be written off as an insignificant sample size.<br />
I know how TV channels get their money. From ad spots, of course. In that case, I am completely at a loss to understand the business model of these online shopping shows. Or is there actually some serious demographic behavioral survey behind this, that tells channels about the kind of people that watch TV after midnight?<br />
<br />
Please tell me. WHO buys these things....????? </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-72491067588941865072010-06-13T21:22:00.003+05:302010-06-13T21:29:26.332+05:30Vuvuzela - an overdose of culture<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Life was simple during school days. There was only Olympics that happened once in four years. For all the hype around Indian medals in Asian Games, these games hardly attracted much attention till Delhi hosted them in 1982. As for Winter Olympics, I didn't even know that such a thing existed when I was in school. Commonwealth Games too passed without making much of a dent on my childhood memory.<br />
Now there's Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics, Commonwealth, Asian, and as if these are not enough, there is Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup, IPL, Champions League, Formula 1, Hockey World Cup and yes, FIFA world cup. So much to remember.... :-(<br />
Each game promises to be bigger and better than the previous one. And the organizers pull out all stops in the opening and closing ceremony. Either they are getting repetitive and/or monotonous, or I am losing memory, but after all these years and all the ceremonies that have come and gone, only TWO instances remain etched on my memory.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The lighting of torch in Barcelona 1992 and closing ceremony of Moscow Olympics 1980. In Barcelona, the simplicity of that unforgettable act just took one's breath away. No gizmos, nobody ostensibly flying across</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> the stadium, no laser beams. Just a bow and a flaming arrow and a hush of tense anticipation in the stadium. Take a look, in case you have forgotten (or if you were not born then!)<br />
<br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='280' height='232' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwv9NGqpK6vLv421QMzktvOYug8Qb8voufvVvCIyuW1kyfargeX4NB9h4FKZtoldiWm0qDPz-snH9aDbdWZGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Source - Youtube</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As for Moscow, the mosaic showing tears flowing down Misha said it all. The mosaic trick has been tried so often later on, but none have had the effect that Misha had. Again, take a peep into history.<br />
<br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='283' height='235' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzkRX5jg3P-bLnIXXls2dacNjpeNzURywEApFZ0b9Z-VagU08FW68NZLgdHv85EM7XZDz_9z3R7s45x8vKT5w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Source - Youtube<br />
<br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Cut to South Africa 2010. The only thing that is staying in my head after two days is the incessant drone of these blasted </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(pun intended) Vuvuzelas. I think it is an overdose of this 'cultural' thing. Unnecessary hype around a piece of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">plastic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1. They sound monotonous after about 45 seconds. Tolerating them for 90 minutes is a torture. And they are also a <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/405446-vuvuzelas-local-color-or-the-curse-of-the-cup" style="color: lime;"><i>weapon of mass distraction.</i></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2. I read that they are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuvuzela" style="color: lime;"><i>also a health hazard</i></a>, given the decibel levels that they can belt out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">3. Most of all, I think there is hardly anything 'South African' about them. Plastic trumpets producing the most hideous </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">bleating sounds have been produced in every small town in India and sold in fairs for less than 5 rupees. Not just in India, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">but I am sure every country has its own version of Vuvuzela. In Marathi they have an onomatopoeic name - Pipaani. My </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">daughter, nephews and nieces would easily account for about 50 of them so far.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I hope that by the end of FIFA 2010, I will remember the tournament for something better than Vuvuzelas. Something that is really South African.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-9515906923868398022010-06-09T01:50:00.002+05:302010-06-09T15:09:17.704+05:30About 'Anonymous' comments<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks to Pune rains and the ensuing power failure and resultant net failure, I was away from blogging for some time.<br />
OK, that's an excuse that is valid only for the last nine days. Before that, I had stopped writing just because I couldn't think of what to write. The usual rampant infection - writers' block.<br />
After returning to the internet, one of the first things that I did was look at comments 'pending approval' on my blog. Not surprisingly, there were only useless Anonymous comments just waiting for me to press 'delete'.<br />
But that very thing has prompted this post.<br />
I admit that I am a little naive in this area and am asking you all for some enlightenment. WHO writes all these anon comments? Who has so much time, I mean?<br />
Earlier I had kept the setting for comments as unmoderated, so had to constantly watch and delete all the nonsensical stuff. (It has a collateral benefit. If, say, you have 10 comments, and 5 of them are fraud anon ones. You delete those five. Blogger still shows the footer as '10 comments' ! Haha!<br />
Coming back to the point. Some months ago, I decided to change the setting to 'moderated' and set upon the noble task of preventing the senseless stuff appearing on my blog.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Be that as it may, one anon comment did catch my attention. Now you have to see this in perspective. Most of my blogging hours are post-midnight. Which means that my retina and its connected grey cells have a fair bit of coating of whisky when I write. Even in that state, it was never difficult to see the utter trash status of these Anon comments.<br />
<br />
1. NONE them have anything to do with the post's topic.<br />
2. They usually start and end abruptly.<br />
3. They often have a link to some obscure web page. Which I have never dared to visit?<br />
4. VERY often, they have a porn angle in the text.<br />
<br />
Now now now. What am I saying. I am sure all you readers already know this and must be facing this all the time.<br />
But some days back, I read one Anon post before deleting it from the system, and it was a very learned treatise on the art of gambling. It was not just about stakes and the different systems governing the same, but it also had some sideways remarks about today's governance! In fact, it was rather philosophical in parts. With or without whisky, there were parts of it that were quite interesting!!<br />
So in case you have some idea about this - please provide some answers to the following -<br />
<br />
A. WHO are the kind of people who write all these Anon comments?<br />
B. How does it all this junk find its way to my blog? (Or any blog, for that matter.)<br />
C. WHAT do these mystery writers stand to gain?<br />
D. If some of them can write good stuff like what I saw, why cant they write it in a proper forum?<br />
E. Finally, is there some foolproof way (maybe not immediately, but at least in the foreseeable future) that these people can be thrown out of the web?<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-9005816856690199072010-05-31T01:45:00.000+05:302010-05-31T01:45:40.142+05:30Dirty politics in India - is their a bottom to the pit?<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This must be one of the most reluctant posts that I have written. It is almost a compulsive one.<br />
Nearly 150 lives were lost in the train accident in Bengal. On one hand, I was glad that there actually were helicopters carrying the injured to hospitals. Otherwise, one always wonders how in USA helicopters are always present to rescue people. So it can happen in India too, I said to myself.<br />
Barely 48 hours later, I see the ministers divided in their opinion about how the accident happened. I am OK with people having different opinions, but can they hold their tongues for some time?<br />
Mamta Banerjee has hit her all-time low by claiming that this was a result of 'political conspiracy'. How insensitive can one get? It is no surprise that this statement comes with WB civic body elections around the corner. The last time she did this was when she raked up the Singur controversy. Clearly, she was keeping the oncoming general elections in mind at that time. Now it is the civic body elections.<br />
Mamta seems to have got her act together in terms of her moves in the arena of electoral politics. I just hope that the voters get their act right some day and hand out to her what she deserves. A resounding defeat.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-33157898930173666122010-05-08T17:06:00.000+05:302010-05-08T17:06:24.738+05:30When will the British learn ?<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The British parliament election results are out and everybody there appears to be perplexed. A hung parliament has emerged from the ballot boxes, and the last time something like this happened there was 36 years ago.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So what? All they need to do is look at how Indian politicians have tackled this with consummate ease. A hung parliament has never been a deterrent for our leaders. They have been able to change their colours of loyalty faster than a chameleon. All that it takes is to follow the rule of four Ds. Here's a simple guide.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">1. Defect - The simplest of all techniques.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">2. Defy (the voters, that is) - What we said before the polls is a matter of history. We can always change to some other agenda. Even give it a politically correct name of 'Common minimum program'.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">3. Deny - That you said something before the polls. Statements like 'there is no question for forming an alliance with XYZ' have to be forgotten and any alliance can then be defended by saying 'politics has strange bedfellows'.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">4. Dogged pursuit - of power, what else.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The British could have learned something from a country that they ruled for so long. Maybe we can send a delegation of our politicians there , headed by people like Mayawati, Laloo, Ramadoss, Mamta and of course, Amar Singh. They can solve the problem of 10, Downing Street in a matter of minutes.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Another chance to show that Indians are going to rule the world!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-26618766657705294072010-05-07T04:09:00.001+05:302010-05-07T04:16:06.320+05:30The day after...<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The crystal ball didn't lie, after all. With some variations here and there, many of the predictions in my earlier post turned out to be true. Unfortunately, I don't know whether to feel happy or sad about this. When one's prediction of a ridiculous and totally avoidable event turns out true, what does one do?<br />
In all the mayhem on TV channels following Kasab's verdict, I would like to focus on that part which came as a surprise to me.<br />
The big moment, as touted by all channels, the announcement of the verdict, was anchored on NDTV by Nidhi Razdan. Whether this was by design or some divine intervention, I was glad that the most sensible anchor on NDTV handled this part. All other channels without exception went berserk.<br />
NDTV's late night show on 'Your verdict' anchored by Sonia Singh featured interviews of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's father, Shantanu Saikia (husband of Sabina Saikia, who was one of the victims of attack on Taj) amongst others. I was left dumbstruck to hear Shantanu's views. I am still to get over it completely. After the day-long tamasha on all channels, his fortitude and grace were touching and inspiring. I can only quote him ad verbatim.<br />
Quote<br />
"This is really a personal matter. Me and my sons have forgiven Kasab long back. <b>That was the only way we could survive.</b> I do not wish that my sons grow up to think like terrorists do. An eye for an eye will not bring Sabina back. Our country is in the throes of social and economic upheaval, and this is the time for us to sit back and think in quiet dignity. I am neither happy nor sad at the death sentence."<br />
Unquote<br />
No words can encompass the gravity, the enormity of this sentiment. I can only bow to Shantanu and his family for the stance that they have taken.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Compare this interview with that which Rajdeep Sardesai took (of Hemant Karkare's brother). Two channels, two differnt anchors, same topic being discussed. See the difference for yourself.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On NDTV - </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Sonia Singh had asked - Shantanu, your feelings about this matter? (His answer is given above.)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On CNN-IBN</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Rajdeep - So is this the closure or that will only happen after the main perpetrators of this terrorist attack are punished?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Ans - Yes. Only then it will be closure.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Rajdeep - So you have not forgiven Kasab?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Ans - No, we have not.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Will someone please tell Rajdeep how to avoid leading questions in interviews? There is a difference between asking a genuine question and in making the person say what YOU want to hear.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As for me, I have decided to lock away the crystal ball where Indian News channels are concerned.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-61162710295588059322010-05-06T00:43:00.001+05:302010-05-06T00:46:38.259+05:30Gazing into the crystal ball...<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I don't claim to be a fortune teller, but this time around, I have decided to look into the crystal ball.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhtekAikZq9c6dfzblcSciaphYdzPUVna6YOYnhRGSiLjfHaW4BHXLwqdTvpUQc8OtQxhaiK1EOdthcX0KSN1PAoU80fN2PiIgrB8qI0A_So_tBA2WCVNwVsJz53lZTZajRlv1UptmueZ/s1600/crystal-ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhtekAikZq9c6dfzblcSciaphYdzPUVna6YOYnhRGSiLjfHaW4BHXLwqdTvpUQc8OtQxhaiK1EOdthcX0KSN1PAoU80fN2PiIgrB8qI0A_So_tBA2WCVNwVsJz53lZTZajRlv1UptmueZ/s200/crystal-ball.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Picture courtesy - Google</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So, what will happen to news channels in India tomorrow.....? Here's my prediction.<br />
By 10 am, all channels would have aired (32 times, at least) a shot of the army of cops outside Arthur Road jail.<br />
By 11 am, the channels would work up a frenzy asking the same question again and again. Hindi channels - 'क्या कसाब को मिलेगा फांसी का फन्दा? English - 'Death penalty for Kasab?' CNN-IBN will try to be stylish by saying "eyes of the entire country are now centered on one man. Judge Tahiliyani." Gargi Rawat on NDTV will try (unsuccesfully) very hard to make a serious face, because she can't stop smiling at everything. (Barkha Dutt would be sleeping at this time. She would be preparing for a long night later.)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">By this time, India TV and News 24 hours (both entertainment channels actually, but masquerading as news channels) would have whipped up some crazy Hindi catchline. I can't quite clearly see in the crystal ball. Even the ball has difficulty predicting these two channels.....<br />
By 11.30, the news will erupt. Judge Tahiliyani will pronounce death sentence to Kasab for 3 out of 86 charges, life imprisonment for 36 out of the remaining 83, and rigorous imprisonment of 10 years for the remaining 47. And all hell will break loose. कसाब को फांसी . Kasab gets death sentence. News for Kasab. Sorry, noose for Kasab. छब्बीस ग्यारह के आतंकी को मौत का फरमान. Etc. etc. etc.<br />
By 4 pm, all channels would have sent their junior reporters to go and interview every person that they can find on the face of earth. India TV will show Judge Tahiliyani's dog frantically wagging his tail. 'टौमी ने भी अपनी ख़ुशी जाहिर की'.<br />
By 6 pm, the channels will have caught hold of most politicians. They will be able to do this only now, since most of the politicians will be busy shouting in the parliament till then.<br />
By 9 pm, Arnab Goswami will be foaming at his mouth, Barkha Dutt will be in fits, and Rajdeep Sardesai will be speechless. Because he would have shouted so much since evening. I hope he keeps a lot of cough lozenges with him. After all, we are all entitled to some entertainment, aren't we?<br />
By 11 pm, all channels will be asking - what next? Will Kasab become another Afzal Guru?<br />
And how can I forget. On IBN-Lokmat, Nikhil Wagle will have dislocated his elbow and shoulder joints by now due to his incessant and frantic gesturing.<br />
And thus will end another day in the history of Indian news channels.<br />
Note - As I type this, I completely feel the pain of each person who has lost a dear one in the carnage of 26/11. Kasab must be punished, no two ways about that. My intention is not to ridicule the Kasab trial. I am only commenting on how the news channels will respond.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164716751518315429.post-61732599844227508872010-05-04T17:57:00.000+05:302010-05-04T17:57:13.236+05:30Watch out...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Funny notices and road signs have made frequent appearances on my blog. I was amazed to notice a spelling error that I had missed for several months, in spite of being right in front of my eyes all along.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is a bottle of Teeth Cleaning Oil (yes, I know I run the risk of being disowned by my dentist friends) which makes several claims. The first one is 'Relieves tooth ache'. At least, that's what its <i>supposed </i>to say. Remarkably, it actually says 'Relives Tooth Ache'. Should I be relieved?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaQ7dfQYXWCNLJJHcZuP5oXrvZEynq0hGWx4DPvUwfhUaU8OVCPsUY-2Q0BQEtTjqlp7OzsgxCRFFqAUIgQvgczSoP-XHCZBKkpmigz2yG1xP3J_sSeHtEQG7D1ad7AVnuYwGx33P8AN7/s1600/teeth_oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaQ7dfQYXWCNLJJHcZuP5oXrvZEynq0hGWx4DPvUwfhUaU8OVCPsUY-2Q0BQEtTjqlp7OzsgxCRFFqAUIgQvgczSoP-XHCZBKkpmigz2yG1xP3J_sSeHtEQG7D1ad7AVnuYwGx33P8AN7/s200/teeth_oil.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It also goes on to say in a reassuring manner that it (relives) 'Bad <b>Odur'</b>, 'Removes <b>stins</b> from teeth' and also 'Arrest bad blood <b>form</b> gums.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ouch... </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955245504822871562noreply@blogger.com4